Inside STAT: Startups look to viruses and bacteria for the next generation of skin care

(ILLUSTRATION: MOLLY FERGUSON FOR STAT; PHOTO: ADOBE)

The skin care market might seem oversaturated, but better products for acne and other conditions are still lacking. And while it may seem like getting rid of bacteria and germs that promote skin conditions is the obvious answer, a handful of companies are now trying to do the opposite: leveraging the microbes that reside with us to better treat skin conditions. But are these startups biotech companies or beauty companies? The distinction could mean the difference between whether their products are regulated as drugs or whether they can go straight to consumers. From pore-strip-derived bacteria to bacteria-killing viruses, STAT’s Megan Thielking has the skinny on all things skin microbiome here.